Case Number 10819

CHAIN REACTION (BLU-RAY)

The Charge

Get ready to react.

Opening Statement

After the Summer blockbuster season has passed and moviegoers have had their
fill of big-screen thrills for another year, studios begin to release their
"also-ran" attractions. Some of these pictures prove to be sleeper
hits, while others appear best slept through. Therefore, in August 1996 when
notable stars Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman graced the one-sheet for Chain
Reaction, audiences were challenged to decide if this end-of-the-season
thriller would be worthy of a peek or if the big acts had already packed up and
gone home. Now, seeing it as an early release in the year of the great
high-definition format battle, could it be this was an overlooked gem that might
finally get its due accolades?

Facts of the Case

Eddie Kasalivich (Keanu Reeves, Speed) is a student machinist
fortunate enough to be a member of a University of Chicago research team tasked
with determining a way to extract clean-burning hydrogen from water. Futurist
and utopian visionary Dr. Alistair Barkley (Nicholas Rudall, The Babe) is
guiding the collective toward his dream of delivering a cheap and profuse energy
supply that could revolutionize the world and perhaps bring about an end to
global conflict and warfare. Just as Eddie cracks the secret for stabilizing the
extraction process, project sponsor and overseer Paul Shannon (Morgan Freeman,
Batman Begins) seems more concerned than ever. Fears of espionage ensue
as the team's research lab disintegrates in an 8-block-leveling hydrogen
explosion, leaving some members missing and others under high suspicion,
including Eddie and the lovely physicist Dr. Lily Sinclair (Rachel Weisz,
Enemy at the Gates). As the FBI closes in on Eddie and Lily, it seems the
project's goals were not what they appeared to be, and, most disturbingly, that
Shannon might not be who he claimed to be.

The Evidence

Don't look for too much depth in Chain Reaction because it's largely a
by-the-numbers tale of political suspense and intrigue. Under the practiced hand
of Director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive), it moves along at a rapid pace
that insists you keep your eyes peeled, your ears open, and your mouth shut.
Lose your focus and you may lose your way through this hyper-kinetic espionage
caper. If you can keep your attention for the 106-minute duration, though,
you'll be rewarded with a generally enjoyable thriller that delivers constant
twists and revelations, never absolutely scintillating yet certainly satisfying.
In the end, you might scratch your head over the final resolution, but only if
you failed to remain committed to the rapid-fire details thrown your way over
the course of the picture. If you remained alert, though, you'll recognize the
unmistakable conspiracy theory that was suggested from the very beginning.

While Chain Reaction succeeds in its mission, it can't help but come
across as a minor motion picture featuring major Hollywood stars. To that end,
we immediately doubt its credibility and that of its actors, wondering if this
was on of those "in-between" jobs of theirs or, alternately, if the
film was promised one way then ultimately redirected another by meddling studio
heads. Either way, as entertaining as it is, it's surely forgettable as it looks
like so many of the other films of its genre (immediately, I think about the
accomplished Harrison Ford in the recently low-flying Firewall).
Regardless, Morgan Freeman is irreproachable in his performance, exhibiting the
unwavering calm and determination that has made him such a figure of steely
resolve in this sort of role. Keanu Reeves seems to take a vacation from acting
here, never stretching himself much beyond his "unwitting hero"
persona. Rachel Weisz performs dutifully as the pretty female who's welled up
with tears and largely exists to be rescued by the hero. Beyond these three, the
remainder of the cast is a collection of capable character actors who work as
"role players" to move the narrative along much as we would
expect.

Coming to Blu-Ray as an exclusive release (Fox has not announced support of
the competing HD-DVD format as of this writing), Chain Reaction actually
looks better than it is. The image is presented via an MPEG-2 encoded
transfer, which might suggest inferiority to the advanced MPEG-4 and VC-1
codecs, yet it does a remarkable job here. Thanks largely to a mostly-vibrant
production design, the image looks crisp and dimensional in nearly every scene
(the only exception being a few exterior shots of the Chicago side streets that
were intentionally muted). The interior of the research lab and the cool
blue-tinted hydrogen separation chamber look especially impressive. Other
interior scenes utilize generous amounts of amber lighting tones that work to
eke out exceptional detail in the settings as well as in the actors hair, skin,
and clothing textures. This is one of the better transfers to date and could
easily be regarded a mid-Tier 1 candidate. As a side note, the keep case insert
describes this as a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, though it's clearly framed at 1.78:1.
Is this internal espionage at Fox, maybe?

The audio performs as well as the video, with the onboard DTS HD Master
Lossless Audio track making excellent use of all surround channels. The discrete
signals succeed in directing natural sounding effects around the viewing area,
working well with the actors' reactions on screen. The LFE channel is summoned
into service very well as the hydrogen separator rumbles and rocks, and you'll
be tempted to secure your sub-woofer to the ground during the hydrogen
explosion. Dialog is well maintained and always discernible throughout. The only
casualty in this mix is the late Jerry Goldsmith's score, which is pushed too
far to the background over the course of the picture.

As for extras, this is where this Blu-Ray disc comes up short. First, it
offers the now-routine collection of HD-enhanced trailers for this and other BR
releases. Beyond this, the Blu-Ray exclusive Trivia Track is present, providing
frequent overlays of information pertinent to the production, the shooting
locations, the actors, and the subject matter of energy exploration. The
information is interesting enough, but a PiP delivery with actual cast and crew
comments are what BR enthusiasts are seeking. With those being the only extras
here, its conceivable some would call this a missed opportunity in relation to
the format's capabilities.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Chain Reaction is certainly not a top-shelf feature and, for that
reason, early adopters of the costly Blu-Ray technology might rightfully ask for
more significant releases (with Fox, Disney, and Sony owning some of the most
sought-after titles; surely you can guess a few of them off the top of your
head). Nevertheless, the picture and audio both succeed well in their HD
treatment and collectively serve to further prove the technology's potential. As
a reasonably compelling thriller, it makes for a worthy inclusion in the growing
BR catalog of titles.

Closing Statement

If you're one who enjoys political and industrial espionage with plenty of
quick hints and perpetual twists, Chain Reaction should satisfy. In
regards to the high-definition aspect, the film utilizes the format's key
capabilities admirably and thereby heightens the enjoyment factor.